While some indicators are positive, others are troubling. The arrival of Donald Trump in the White House has given the Kremlin a political boost, and lifting sanctions will help, but it is no panacea.
Tariffs and countermeasures are fracturing the system of globalisation on which the post-Cold War world was built. Prosperity and interconnectedness may break with it. The world stands on the brink.
Moscow's much smaller neighbours have been looking elsewhere for energy, trade, investment, and security. That is not in Russia's plans, but Putin knows the new US president is unlikely to help them.
One of the world's poorest nations currently has one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. Looking at the map and surveys of its mineral deposits shows why that might continue.
An economic giant, any combined North American state would be larger than Russia and richer than China, with a GDP of $31.2tn, producing almost twice as much oil as Saudi Arabia
Conflict, drought, tariffs, and inflation are making it harder to feed people in the Arab world. Yet if the wars in Ukraine and Sudan end with investment in agriculture, the clouds may brighten.
Relations have plummeted between Paris and Algiers. The latter sought a fairer deal, but the former seemed to want only oil, gas, and a grain market. As French firms leave, Algeria is moving on.
A strategy to rebuild post-conflict Arab economies is slowly taking shape despite Israeli intransigence. It's an enormous task, but the cost of inaction is higher.
Netanyahu always said the truce was temporary and used the 'war pause' to grab more land in the West Bank and go after those in Israel who opposed the Kahanist war aims of his far-right coalition
Deals with Kurdish and Druze minorities are to be cheered. A blink-and-you-miss-it National Dialogue Conference, the killing of 1,000 people, and the president's ever-expanding powers are not.
Were recent strikes ordered by Trump intended as a warning to Tehran, or could they be a prelude to an expanded war? Al Majalla weighs in on the possible motives.
Now streaming on Netflix, Season 2 delves deeper into the fight for freedom far from Palestine, shining a light on refugee pain and their longing for the homeland
The apprehending of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is the culmination of weeks of a crackdown, which appears to have been aimed at eliminating a political threat to President Erdoğan's grip on power